By Prof Dr Taimoor ul Hassan
The recent large-scale Israeli airstrikes on Iran mark yet another dangerous escalation in the global geopolitical order. In a meticulously coordinated assault, Israel launched hundreds of fighter jets targeting Iranian nuclear facilities, claiming to have crippled Iran’s nuclear infrastructure — much of which had been under regular inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The Israeli narrative justifies the attack as a preemptive strike to eliminate what it calls a “nuclear threat.” Iran, in response, has condemned the attack as naked aggression, requested an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council, and vowed resolute retaliation.
This episode comes on the heels of an earlier Indian attack on Pakistan, allegedly supported by Israeli intelligence and operational coordination. The Indian assault, justified on the grounds of countering so-called terrorist camps inside Pakistan, also invoked fears about Pakistan’s nuclear assets potentially falling into the hands of rogue elements. The parallels are too glaring to ignore: both attacks targeted two nuclear-capable Muslim states under the pretext of neutralizing potential threats to regional and global security. Behind both, the looming shadow of US strategic designs is unmistakable.
The Pattern of Targeting Islamic Nuclear Powers
What is unfolding before us is not a random sequence of events but a carefully choreographed geopolitical strategy. Both Iran and Pakistan represent the only two Islamic states possessing nuclear capabilities or advanced nuclear potential. This factor alone makes them natural focal points for the security calculus of the United States, Israel, and their regional allies.
In both cases, the pattern is strikingly similar:
– First, narratives of instability and terrorism are constructed.
– Second, concerns are raised about nuclear security and proliferation.
– Third, “preemptive” military strikes are justified under the doctrine of self-defense.
– Finally, international law is either bypassed or selectively interpreted to rationalize these acts of aggression.
In the case of Pakistan, India’s recent cross-border assault was presented as a counterterrorism operation aimed at destroying alleged terrorist hideouts. However, the accompanying rhetoric about the dangers of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal exposed the deeper strategic intent — to weaken, isolate, and eventually disarm a key Muslim nuclear power under the guise of global security.
Now, Israel has executed a similar script against Iran. Under the cover of dismantling a nuclear threat, it has eliminated key Iranian military commanders, decapitated segments of Iran’s defense leadership, and delivered a severe blow to Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, which, until this attack, had been under continuous IAEA monitoring.
The Strategic US-Israel Nexus
It would be naïve to view these attacks as isolated national initiatives by India or Israel. Both countries are deeply embedded in Washington’s broader geopolitical framework. The United States may not have directly participated in the strikes, but its silent endorsement is evident.
In both incidents, President Trump — who has cultivated close relationships with both Indian and Israeli leaderships — confined his response to vague statements of “urging restraint” while subtly applauding the attacks as necessary actions. He expressed the hope that Iran and Israel would eventually return to the negotiating table — a familiar diplomatic posture that does little to conceal tacit approval.
Meanwhile, the United States has been actively building an anti-Iranian Arab coalition comprising Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and others. These countries, historically hostile to Iran due to sectarian and political rivalries, have either remained conspicuously silent or offered muted responses to Israel’s aggression. This silence speaks volumes about the shifting alliances in the Middle East.
The US-Israel nexus operates on a longstanding, deeply entrenched convergence of interests. Israel seeks to eliminate all regional threats to its military and nuclear supremacy, while the US aims to dismantle any power centers that challenge its unipolar dominance and the security architecture built around its Middle East allies.
The Danger of Precedent
The Israeli attack on Iran sets a profoundly dangerous precedent for global peace and stability. The notion that any state can unilaterally attack another based on alleged threats, while sidelining international oversight mechanisms like the IAEA, strikes at the very heart of the global non-proliferation regime and international law.
If such aggression is normalized, it opens the door for a world governed not by legal norms but by the raw exercise of power. Any state could claim a perceived threat and launch preemptive attacks, setting off endless cycles of violence, retaliation, and destabilization.
In the immediate context, Iran has vowed to respond. The region now stands at the brink of a full-blown conflict that could engulf not just the Middle East but also reverberate across South Asia, Central Asia, and beyond.
The Gaza Context: One Crisis Feeding Another
This latest escalation also unfolds while the Gaza massacre remains unresolved. Israel’s brutal military campaign in Gaza has already drawn global condemnation, although effective international intervention has remained elusive. The international community’s failure to restrain Israel in Gaza has perhaps emboldened Tel Aviv to act even more aggressively elsewhere.
Gaza and Iran are not disconnected crises. They are part of a broader Israeli strategic posture aimed at neutralizing all forms of resistance and eliminating any potential threats to its military and political hegemony in the region.
The Multipolar World in Crisis
Iran, unlike isolated states, is not alone. It has built strong strategic ties with China, Russia, Central Asia, and other powers advocating for a multipolar global order. These alliances were forged precisely to counterbalance US and Western domination of global politics.
The Israeli assault, therefore, is not merely a bilateral Israel-Iran conflict. It is a direct challenge to the emerging multipolar global architecture. Washington’s shadow role reflects its growing anxiety over the crumbling of its unipolar moment, with China, Russia, Iran, and other powers increasingly asserting independent foreign policies and economic systems.
The Implications for Pakistan
For Pakistan, these developments are deeply alarming. While the world remains focused on Iran, the recent Indian attack on Pakistan — with alleged Israeli and US backing — reveals that Pakistan itself is firmly in the crosshairs of the same strategic nexus. The rhetoric about Pakistan’s nuclear safety, combined with accusations of harboring terrorism, mirrors the pretexts now used against Iran.
Pakistan’s muted official response — a routine condemnation note — is grossly inadequate given the gravity of the situation. As the Israeli-US-Indian strategic axis becomes increasingly aggressive, Pakistan must recalibrate its foreign policy, strengthen its alliances with emerging powers, and develop a robust diplomatic and defense posture to deter any future adventurism.
The Urgent Need for Global Diplomacy
The Israeli attack on Iran is not just an attack on one country; it is an assault on the principles of sovereign equality, international law, and peaceful conflict resolution. The global community must not remain a passive spectator to these dangerous precedents.
The United Nations must convene an emergency session to address this blatant violation of international norms. Major global powers outside the US-Israel axis must step forward to demand accountability and restraint.
Pakistan, for its part, must go beyond routine statements and actively engage with like-minded countries to build a broad-based diplomatic coalition. The stakes are too high, not just for Iran and Pakistan, but for global peace and the future of international order itself.
Conclusion: The War Has Shifted
The Israeli-US nexus has entered a new phase of aggressive military interventions targeting Muslim nuclear powers under the guise of counterterrorism and non-proliferation. Iran today, Pakistan yesterday — and perhaps others tomorrow. The international community, especially the Muslim world, faces a moment of truth.
If unchecked, this pattern will fuel endless cycles of instability, war, and human suffering, while eroding the very foundations of global peace and security. The time to act — diplomatically, politically, and strategically — is now.
